Philmont to kids: Be quiet or leave

PHILMONT—During the police report at the October 14 meeting of the Philmont Village Board, Chief of Police Vernon Doyle assured the board that the Police Department is doing everything in its power to deal with noise complaints in some of the subsidized housing in the village.

Chief Doyle said that “some of the loudness” was attributable to “youths—they’re not adults.”

Mayor Clarence Speed asked that the chief “keep logging it because as long as you get three calls in one month, Social Services will relocate them.”

“… To Church Street,” said one board member, laughing.

Chief Doyle could not confirm that three calls is the exact number that triggers action by officials responsible for the federal housing voucher program called Section 8 for the part of federal law that authorizes the program. But he did say that residents could be moved after a certain number of noise violations.

Mayor Speed noted that this rule had been enforced before with some residents being moved to Kinderhook. “Kinderhook all but hanged them,” Mr. Speed said.

“At the end of the day, we just increase our patrols [during] targeted times,” said the police chief.

In other business this week, the board:

Heard that only one bid had been submitted for oil for village buildings. That bid was from Montague Oil for $3.33 per gallon. The bid stipulates that it is subject to change. Trustee Larry Ostrander asked why the price was not fixed. “If it goes up, we win. If it goes down, they win,” he said. Trustee Barbara Sagal said, “That’s the lowest I ever remember it being”

Passed a motion to hold village elections on March 18 for two trustees and mayor
Heard that meetings about next year’s Community Day are being held on the first Monday of each month. The first fundraiser will be a pancake breakfast with Santa Claus in December. It is possible that there will be a carnival or circus at the next Community Day
Heard public concerns about what the old Department of Public Works building will be used for
Received a new flag from members of the fire department, including Chief Mark Beaumont
Heard that garbage will be collected on November 5 due to Election Day falling on November 4
Heard that six properties had water turned off due to failure to pay water bills. Three of these properties have had the water turned back on, two are vacant, and one still has no water service
Heard that village reserve accounts have been moved to the Bank of Greene County
Heard that the village records room is being cleared out to make space for a women’s bathroom for the fire company
Heard that there will be a pumpkin walk on October 25
Heard that the party at the library was a success. Mayor Speed cooked chicken and made a speech.

GOOD NEWS!: Fire department celebrates 125 years

In Good News Stories, News, News - Ravena, The Ravena News Herald

September 1, 2022

By Melanie Lekocevic

Capital Region Independent Media

The Ravena Fire Department celebrated its 125th anniversary with a parade through the village Saturday. Melanie Lekocevic/Capital Region Independent Media

EDITOR’S NOTE: Here’s the latest in our ongoing “GOOD NEWS!” series. We hope you have been enjoying hearing about the good things that are happening in our communities — like the local fire department that has been serving its community for 125 years.

RAVENA — In the year 1897, Grover Cleveland was president, the Boston Marathon was run for the first time, and inventor Thomas Edison was granted a patent for the precursor to the movie projector.

It was also the year the Ravena Fire Department was founded.

That is how long the department has been serving and protecting its community.

On Saturday, the fire department held a parade commemorating 125 years of service, opening up the annual Friendship Festival.

“The fire company has always been there for all the people in the community,” said Village Foreman Henry Traver, who was directing traffic along the parade route. “They also do a lot of community events like ice cream socials and steak dinners, and they keep the people going.”

The parade stepped off at 11:30 a.m. from Pieter B. Coeymans Elementary School, marched west on Main Street, turned north on Pulver Avenue and made its way to Mosher Park. Numerous area fire departments, businesses and community groups also participated in the parade, as local residents lined the streets and cheered.

“All fire departments are deep in my heart,” resident Barbara Tanner said as she waited for the marchers to arrive. “My husband was with the New Baltimore Fire Department and I was in the Auxiliary. God bless them — it’s free, it’s volunteer, no pay. They get up day, night, cold, hot — I appreciate the fire departments.”

Ravena resident Rebecca Shook, a gold medalist swimmer in the 2022 Special Olympics held in Florida earlier this year who also serves as the village’s ambassador, was selected as Grand Marshal of the parade.

“It felt amazing to be the Grand Marshal. It was very thrilling,” Shook said. “I love my community a lot.”

Parade Grand Marshal Rebecca Shook, Village Trustee Caitlin Appleby, Deputy Mayor Nancy Warner and Village Trustee Linda Muller, left to right, wave to the crowd in Saturday’s parade honoring the 125th anniversary of the Ravena Fire Department. Mel

Firefighter Rich Byerwalters has been with the fire department for more than two decades. Firefighting is a family tradition for him.

“I joined in 1996 and my father was fire chief before me. Both of my parents were active members for years before that,” Byerwalters said. “It’s great to see so much support from the community. At a time when it is so difficult to find volunteers, we certainly encourage people to come out and do what they can — we have to help each other out because we are all in this together. It is such a small community, we need to rely on each other.”

U.S. Rep. Paul Tonko, D-20, was among the officials marching in the parade and spoke of the vital nature of the services volunteer fire departments provide.

“Firefighting is deemed by many to be the most dangerous occupation. When you can provide quality fire service — fire protection and fire response services — for 125 years, that is worth celebrating,” Tonko said. “We are here in celebration with them, thanking them for the training, the fundraising they do, the selflessness that they bring to the table. They sacrifice personal, family and social time to service their community. There can be no better role model than firefighters.”

U.S. Rep. Paul Tonko, D-20, with parade Grand Marshal Rebecca Shook, holding up her Special Olympics gold medal. Melanie Lekocevic/Capital Region Independent Media

The department is a vital part of the community, Village Trustee Linda Muller said.

“Without the fire department, we wouldn’t have a real community,” Muller said. “They are a great bunch of volunteers that keep our community safe.”

The value the department brings to the community is incalculable, Deputy Mayor Nancy Warner said.

“Words can’t say what this fire company means to the community,” Warner said. “We have one of the best fire companies in the area. These men and women, and now some young community members, are there day or night, anytime. I am thankful to them and I wish them another 125 years here in the village.”

Fire Police Officer John Meyers has spent the past 50 years with several different fire companies and joined the Ravena department a year ago. The contributions of the fire company to the community go beyond firefighting, he said.

“What the fire company does for the village, besides answering alarms, is great,” Meyers said. “We have so many programs to try to help our community.”

Here are more photos from the parade:

Philmont to kids: Be quiet or leave

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